Slip coupling



April 2, 1935; J. MccLl-:LLAND sIfIP boUPLING Filed June 11, 1932 JHNMCCLELLAND,

a device through which a drive Patentedpr. 2, 1935 I one-half to yJ.Alexander Kline,

sur coUPLlNG John Mccleuand, Philadelphia, Pa... assignorofPhiladelphia,

Application June 11, 1932, serial No. 616,621

11 Claims.

`My invention is a coupling for communicating power from avariable-speed driving member to a constant speed driven member, and theleading objects of my invention are the provision of such n member canbe operated at constant speed without shocks or jars, which is verysensitive to and 'immediately compensates for changes in the rate ofspeed of the driving member, and

which provides a simple,

inexpensive and efficient coupling having few parts and of relativelylight weight.

My improved coupling is applicable to a wide variety of uses'but isparticularly designed for the transmission of power to drive a generatoror dynamo at a constant rate so as to provide a current output suitablefor direct connection with a radio set for effecting the operationthereof independently of variations in the speed of a'prime moversupplying the power and which is ordina'- rily an internal combustionengine operated at variable speeds for driving a vehicle, vessel oraircraft.

In its preferred form, my invention isembodied in a housing connectedwith one of the drive mechanisms and forming a reservoir for a fluid.The housing also contains a pump immersed in the fluid and havingtherein an impeller or piston operable bythe other drive mechanism toimpart pressure to fluid drawn from the'reservoir into,

the pump case. c The pressure applied `to the fluid causesthe flowthereof through a port or passage controlled by centrifugal governormechanism carried by the pump case.

The constriction of such port or passage causes the transmission ofpressure from the impeller. through the fluid to the pump case to causethe rotation thereof, and s uch movement of the pump case iscommunicated to the housing through a yielding connection 'havingsu'cient elasticity tok resulting from changes in the and suflicientresiliency to restore the parts to normal running position afterV absorbany shock rate of movement they have been displaced as a result of asudden change inthe rate of movement of one-of the drive mechanisms.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements willfurther appear from the following descriptions and the I accompanyingdrawing in illustration of a preferred embodiment thereof:

In the drawing, Fig.

1 is an irregular vertical sectional view through a coupling embodyingmy invention and connected with a driven member and a driving Fig. 2 isa transverse sectional view onmember of a drive apparatus;l

the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on theline 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is anenlarged fragmentary view showingdetails of construction of the vanes contact- 5 ing lwith Vthe peripheryof the pump rotor and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line6-6 of Fig. 5.

As illustrated in the drawing, the hollow circular housing I has a hub 2through which it is 10 connected vwith a drive member, such as thedriven shaft 3. The hub and shaft may be secured together by a set screw4 and the shaft 3 may be connected with an electric generator (notshown).

The housing I contains a chamber 5 filled with a uid such as alubricating liquid and a hub 6, integral with the housing, projectsintol the chamber 5. A pumpbody or case has a' hollow boss 8 revolublysleeved body 1 is further connected with the housing I through springs 9and I0 anchored to the pins II and I2 on the housing I and to the pinsI3 and III von the pump body 1. The springs 9 and I 0 normally maintainthe pump gbody in a pre-de-1 25 termined position relative to thehousing, but the` springs will yield under sufficient stress to permitrelative movement of the pump body and housingY under the shock or jarof starting or abrupt changes of speed but will restore the parts totheir 30 normal position when the-stress has ceased and will maintainthe parts in normal position against the force requisite to transmitpower for maintaining therotationof the driven member ati-the desiredspeed; y i v A drive member, such as the driving shaft I5 connected witha prime mover, is journalled in the hub 6 and boss 8 and the joint issealed by a packing I6 in the journal box I1, the packing be` ingpressed by the gland or follower I8 threaded 40 in the box. The shaft I5has keyed on the end4 y thereof a rotary impeller or piston I8 having aperipheral surface I9 eccentric to the axis of the shaft 15. The rotorI8 is` revoluble by the shaft I5 in the chamber 20 of the pump and thepe- 45 riphery 'thereof' is engaged by diametrically disposed brushes orbearing blocks 2I. These brushes extend across the width of the chamber20 and by-their contact with the periphery of -the rotor effectivelydivide the chamber 20 into 50 two substantially non-communicatingcompart. ments 20a and 20h.

Each bearing block preferably consists of a bronze head 22 having asurface 23 making close bearing contact with the periphery of the rotor55 on the hub 6 and the pump 20 I8. The head has a convex bearingsurface 24 which rocks in the seat formed by the concave bearing surface25 of the follower 26, the movement of the 'head 22 in its seat beinglimited by the feather 21 housed in the slot 28 of the follower. Thefollower 26 contains the recesses 29 for the 'reception of coilingsprings 30 which bear against ,the end of a hollow boss 3I forming aslideway forthe follower and which contains a bleed port 32 to preventthe follower from becoming airbound in its retracted position in thehollow boss. The springs 30 exert sufficient pressure on the follower 26to hold the head 22 in substantially sealing contact with the peripheryof the rotor, but the springs are compressed to permit the passage ofthe high part of the cam surface of the rotor. The compartments 20a and2 0b respectively communicatc with the chamber 5 through passages 33each controlled by a valve mechanism in a valve casing 34 provided withconoidal ports 35 and 36.

' Each valve mechanism consists ofa conoidal valve body 31 complementaryto a seat 36 and having xed thereto a stem 38 on which is sleeved aconoidal valve body 39 complementary to a seat 35. Coiled springs 40bear against the partitions containing the valve seats 36 and press thevalve bodies 39 toward their seats 35.

A follower 4I, hinged to each valvecasing 34 is rocked against the boss31 of the valve 'body 31 to seat thelatter as a result of the engagementof a centrifugal governor with the cam fac'e 42 of the follower' 4I. Thecentrifugal governor preferably consists of. a curved, weighted lever 43journalled on a stud 44 of the boss 45 projecting from the pump body 1.Each weighted arm 43 is normally drawn inward toward the axis ofrotation of the shaft I5 and into position to seat the valve 31 byy acoiled spring 46 anchored.

to the pump body.

In the operation of the devices, starting from a position of rest, therotation of the shaft I5 turns the rotor I8 in the chamber 20 and thesuction thereby created in the compartments 20a and 20h causesthenpening of the one-way valves 36-admitting fluid from the chamber 5into the compartments 20a and 20h. 'I'he valve bodies 31 are seated inthe seats 36, to `prevent the escape of fluid from the -compartments 20aand 20h, by therocking of the followers 4I by the fulcrumed arms 43which are drawn inward toward the axis of the shaft 15 by the springs46. The continued rotation of the rotor I8 applies pressure to the uidin the chamber 20. Since the fluid cannot escape past the seated valves31 and 39, the force impressed'upon the fluid is communicated to thevalve body 1 and tends to turn the same upon the hub 6. 'Ihe springs 9and I0, while permitting an initial movement of the body 1 on the hub 6to take up shock, soon prevent further rotary movement of the body 1 andrestore it to its original position and its rotary movement is com-'municated through the springs 6 and I0 to the housing I and thence tothe -drive'n shaft 3.l

If, however, the speed of the rotation of the shaft I5 exceeds thatwhich it is desired to impart to the shaft 3, the centrifugal action onthe arms 43 moves them outward from the-axis ofthe shaft I5 against theresistance of the springs 46. 'I'his outward movement of the arms "43permits the rocking of the followers 4I and the unseating of the valvebodies 31 to a greater or less degree, dependent upon the extent ofmovement of the arms 43. The unseating of the valves 31 permits theescape of fluid from the chamber 20, thereby al- .tive to said casing, arelatively movable piston lowing the lrotor I8 to turn relative to thepump body 1. The turning of the rotor I8 will, however, draw insuftlcient fluid through the port 35 to replace that dischargedthroughthe ports 3B, and hence suiiicient pressure will be appliedthrough the fluid to cause the rotation of the pump body 1 and itsconnected parts at the desired rate. Every variation in the 'speed ofthe shaft I5 will result in a corresponding movement of the arms 43 anda consequent opening or closing of the valves 31, hence a constantpressure will be maintained on the fluid in the chamber 20 and aconstant speed will be communicated to the shaft 3.

Having described my invention I claim- 1. Coupling mechanism comprisingdrive members, a housing connected with one of said members, a pumpwithin said housing and having a casing movable relative to saidhousing, means for gradually restricting the movement of said pumpcasing relative to said housing, a piston in said' pump casing andconnected with the other of said drive members, and valve mechanismcontrolling communicationbetween the pump and housing.

2. Coupling mechanism comprising a rotatable 25 member, a housingforming a fluid container connected with said member, a pump having acasing movable relative to said housing, means for gradually retardingthe movement of said pump casing relative' to said housing, a piston insaid pump, a rotatable member connected with said piston, and means,operable by therotation of said coupling, controlling the ow from saidpump.

3. Coupling mechanism comprising a housing forming a reservoir, a pumphaving a casing journalled in said reservoir, means gradually retardingthe movement of said pump casing relative to said housing, a piston insaid pump casing, a shaft connected with said piston, and valvemechanism controlling ow between said reservoir and the interior of saidpump casing.

4. Coupling mechanism comprising a housing forming a reservoir andhaving a hub extending into said reservoir, a pump rotatablycarried bysaid hub in said reservoir, spring mechanism gradually retarding themovement of said pump relative to said housing, said pump containing apiston and avalve controlled passage discharging to said reservoir, ashaft journalled in said hub and connected with said piston, and meansoperable by the rotation of said coupling for controlling said passage.

5. Coupling mechanism comprising a rotatable member, a pump having acasing operatively connected with said rotatable member and containing apiston chamber, a piston having an eccentric periphery rotatable in saidchamber, land bearing blocks engaging the periphery of said piston anddividing said chamber into substantially non-communicating compartments,valve mechanism controlling the discharge from said compartments, andmeans in said casing operable by the rotation of said coupling foractuating said valve mechanism.

6. A coupling comprising a rotatable member, a pump having a casingoperatively connected with said rotatable member and containing meansproviding a piston chamber yieldable relahaving an eccentric peripheryrotatable in said chamber, bearing blocks engaging the periphery of saidpiston and dividing the chamber into substantially non-communicatingcompartments,

said bearing blocks comprising a spring pressed 76 :,ooasn t aimed*ports therein, intertting valve bodies follower and a follower. v

'7. Coupling mechanism comprising a rotatable member, a pump casingoperatively connected with said rotatable member and containing arelatively movable piston chamber portion, a

spring connecting said casing and said portion,

a piston having an eccentric periphery. rotatable in said chamber,bearing blocks engaging the' periphery of said piston and dividing saidchamber into substantially non-communicating compartments, each of saidblocks comprising a head having a curved bearing surface and 'a followerhaving a concave face forming a seat for the /curved'bearingsurfaceofsaidhead, means for limiting the rocking of said head relative to saidfollower, and a plurality of springs applying pressure to said followerand therethrough to said 1 head. f

member; a pump having a casing operatively connected with said`rotatable member and conl taining a piston chamber; a piston in saidcham# berand controlling the discharge'ffrom 12H5 said pistonfoliamberland comprising a )valve member, a follower member and a member ful'- .1crumed about an. axis parallel to theaxisfofsgsaidrotatable membensaidfulcrumedfm'ember being f rocked on lits fulcrum by the rotation of'said y coupling and onevof said members having a f facethrough which,the rocking of said f ulcrumed member operates said valve. y

9; ('Ioupling mechanism comprising a rotatable housing forming areservoir, a pump in said reservoir operatively connected with saidhousing containing a piston chamber,- a pistonin said chamber, and meanscontrolling communication between saidpiston chamber andsaid reservoirand comprising a valve casing having axially head rocking relatively tosaid 8. Coupling mechanism comprising a rotatable movable relative toone another and adapted to close said ports, one of said valves beingadapted to be seated andtheotherof said valves being adapted to beunseated by flow-from the piston 5 chamber toward said reservoir, andvalve operating means comprising an arm fulcrumed on said pump casingand operable by` the rotation thereof. y

10. Coupling mechanism comprising a rotatable housing forming areservoir, a pump within lsaid housing and having a casing operativelyconnected therewith, said pump casing containing a piston chamber, apiston in said chamber, means controlling communication between saidpiston chamber andfsaid reservoir and comprising a valve vcasingcontaining ports, a valve for closing one of said ports, a springtending to move said valve toward closing position, a second valve forclosing the other of said ports, one `of said valves having .a stemforming a guide'for thel other of said valves, andcentrifugal mechanism.controllingsaid last'namedvalvef. l 'l 1i. 'A couplingcomprising'a'rotatable forming al reservoir, anpumpfgjournalled' in said25 housing. spring retarding the relative movement ofjsidlbmp andHousing; a piston` in-said pump, a shaftlrextending' through saidhousing and connected with said piston, piston having .aneccentricigperiphery, brushes v`the,periphery'of said piston and meanscommunica- 1 tionbetween said huurpand-reservoir and comf prising armsfulcrumed on -saidpump, 1 tending to move saidatmmtowardsthe axisiofcontrolledbysaidarma- I,

' .-JonNMccrmAND.'

e-sof- Y rotation-'of 'said housing;

